Wrench for flange-unions.



C. G. DENNIS.

WRENCH FOR FLANGE UNIQONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1915.

5 1 9 1 t p BU S d e t n e t a P 7;" .5 fi/z 3mm CLHYTON G UENMS CLAYTON G. DENNIS, 0F HASTINGS, NEBRASKA.

WRENCH FOR PLAN GE-UNIONS.

Application filed March 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTON G. DENNIS, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in "Wrenches for Flange-Unions, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to wrenches, and particularly to wrenches intended for the purpose of applying and removing flange unions. Flange unions are not adapted to be applied and removed by the ordinary wrench, and it is the primary object of my invention to provide a very simple and effective wrench peculiarly adapted to the removal and replacement of these flange unions.

' A further object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character having a very few parts, and which is adjustable to flange unions of various diameters and which may be readily applied to or removed from engagement with the union.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench ,of this character with two jaws, one of the jaws being fixed and the other movable, the fixed jaw being adapted for engagement with one of the lugs on the outer face of the union, while the movable jaw has wedging engagement with the periphery of the union.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a face view of a flange union with mywrench applied thereto in the position for removing the union; Fig. 2 is a like view to Fig. 1, but showing the wrench applied to the union in a position to apply it; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the wrench and the union arranged as in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the wrench; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the yoke and jaws carried thereby; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the nut whereby the movable jaw is adjusted.

Flange unions are applied by placing the pipe in a vise and then turning the unions on by hand, and it is my purpose to obviate this by providing a wrench for this use.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved wrench comprises a shank Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

Serial No. 16,921.

the metal of the wrench so that it will engage over the outer face of the union in a manner which will be hereafter stated.

Mounted upon the shank 3 is an adjustable jaw comprising a yoke 5 having a cross head 6, the yoke and cross head being formed with alining openings through which the shank 2 of the wrench freely slides. Disposed between the yoke and the cross head is the adjusting nut 7, which is screw-threaded for engagement with the interrupted screw threads 3. Projecting laterally from *the yoke and formed integral therewith is the jaw proper 8, this jaw projecting so as to be in alinement with the jaw 1. The jaw 8 is formed with an outer flange 9 projecting toward the jaw 4e, and between this flange and the yoke are formed the oppositely disposed toothed wedging faces 10, these wedging faces 10 extending down to the end edges of the jaw.

The union to which my invention is particularly adapted to be applied, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is of ordinary construction, and comprises an annular body portion 11 providing the central screwthreaded opening 12. The inner face of this body portion is formed with the approximately annular boss 13 having the outwardly projecting radially extending lugs 14. It is, of course, understood that the boss 13 with its lugs 14 is cast integral or otherwise formed integral with the body of the union.

In the application of my wrench, if it be desired to put on a union, the flange union is held in the left hand and the wrench in the right. 'The hook-shaped jaw is then engaged over the union between two of the lugs 14. The jaw is then screwed up into such position that when the wrench extends tangentially to the axis of the union one of the faces 10 will engage with the periphery of the body portion of the union. With the parts arranged in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, and with the union arranged so that the boss 13 is disposed toward the work, a movement of the handle end'of the wrench in a counter-clockwise direction will cause the wedge-shaped face 10 of. the movable jaw to have wedging engagement with the periphery of the body portion of the union,

A and a rotation of the wrench in a counterclockwise direction will of course screw the union in place. To remove the union the parts are reversed so that the wedge-shaped face opposite the first-named wedge-shaped face will engage with the periphery ofthe union, while the hook-shaped jaw engages against one of the lugs 14. Under these circumstances, a rotation of the wrench in a clockwise direction will cause the removal of the union. It will be understood that the jaw of the wrench is always to be kept upon the smooth face of the flange union, and it will be also observed that the boss 13 of the union permits the jaw 4 tobe engaged with the lugs 14 so that the union may be removed or screwed in.

The wrench as above described is intended to be made in various sizes so as to be adapted for flange unions of different diameters, each of the sizes being adapted for unions varying in diameter between certain limits. It will be noted that there is no slip to this wrench as the hook-shaped'jaw keeps the wrench from slipping sidewise and the pressure on the wedge-shaped jaw is almost in the center of the jaw. The harder the pull on the wrench the more firmly it is engaged with the union. It will also be noted that the wrench consists of only three pieces, namely, the shank and fixed jaw, the yoke and movable jaw, and the nut.

My improved wrench is extremely effective in practice and fills the need often felt by steamfitters and others of some means whereby flange unions mayv be readily removed or applied. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A wrench of the character described comprising a screw-threaded shank, the end of the shank being bent to form a hookshaped jaw, a jaw movably mounted upon the shank and opposed to the fixed jaw, and

a nut carried by the movable jaw and engag ing the screw threads of the .jaw, the movable jaw being formed with two gripping faces'laterally extending from the middle of the jaw and inclined outward and toward the handle end of the shank.

' 2. A wrench of the character described comprising a screw-threaded shank, one extremity of the shank being bent to form a hook-shaped fixed jaw, a movable jaw mounted upon the shank and comprising a vyoke slidably engaging the shank, and a jaw proper extending laterally from the yoke and opposed to the fixed jaw, said jaw having outwardly diverging wedging faces extending in a direction away from thefixed jaw, and a nut carried by the yoke and en gaging the screw threads of the shank.

3. A wrench for removing andapplying' flange unions comprising a shank rectangular in cross section and screw-threaded on its side edges, the shank at one end being bent to form a hook, the bill of the hook being relatively flat and thin and forming a fixed jaw, a movable jaw mounted upon the shank and comprising a yoke having sliding en- I gagement with the shank, the yoke having a laterally projecting portion formed thereon opposed to the hook-shaped jaw, this laterally projecting portion being formed with outwardly divergent gripping faces extending in a direction away from the fixed jaw and with a flange defining the outer end of '80 said gripping faces, said flange being rela- 

